The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-13
CALLED BACK TO LIFE.
A Lovers Tough Experience-A Chap
ter From Mrs. Cleveland's Youth.
From the Baltimore American.

From the Baltimore american.
WASHINGTON, May MANY a ship
wrecked heart was left stranded on the
shores Of love when Frances Folsom welded
Grover Cleveland. OF all these wrecks, but
one has been heard from and is known to
have passed safely through the surf of that
rude awakening. His name? Well, it's on
the hotel register at Wizards. But why
give him away. His story3 Well, that's
another thing. 1t was no mere passing
fancy, no case of love at first sight that
burned deep within the heart of this young
Romeo to-day and tomorrow was gone, but
an abiding affection, SO to speak, that
grew with his growth and strengthened
with his strength. Way back to
the time when they attended neigh
boring schools the tender passion began
to dawn within his breast, and quickly
ripened into positive feeling, that played
sad havoc alike with his studies his appetite
and his general peace. When both had left
school he paid her devoted and unremitting
attention, but never, SO far as is known, re-
ceived from her any sign that he was re-
garded as more than warm friend. But
that was enough for him, so long as none of
his rivals seemed to have any greater recog-
milton. And SO things went on from day to
day and season to season. Miss Folsom's
popularity was absolutely without any limi-
tations Everybody loved and admired her,
just as they do now. The boys were
madly in love with her, the old people
thought she was ian angel" and the other
girls were not jealous of her, because there
was that about her which dispelled any such
feeling. AT every place of amusement, be it
the theatre, ball, amateur theatricals or
what not in winter, the church festival, pic
mic, tennis or boating parties in the summer,
she was always foremost, and he was always
with her. There was no distance great
enough to keep him away, no privation suf-
ficient to check his ardor. By and by q
strange rumor reached his ear. Frances
Folsom was going to marry Grover Cleve-
land the President of the United States.
Could it be truep No. He would not be
lieve it. He tried to put the dreadful
very throat until it choked him, ard when
it began to be generally talked about and
accepted as true, his cup Of misery was full.
He refused to be comforted. Even the
thought of his suffering companions was
no solace to him. Finally the mar
riage came. 1t was the talk
of the whole country for months
before and after. The press gave column
upon column of description and all this that
was read with avidity by others was gall
and wormwood and doubly distilled to him.
His parents, alarmed at his condition, per-
suaded him to travel, and he went South
and he remained many months Slowly the
lapse of time and change of scene, the two
great remedies for blighted affection
wrought change in him, and in due
course of time he returned to his home in
New York, reconciled to the inevitable, but
with a spot yet not entirely healed in his
heart. Long time his parents and friends
talked to him and told him that only one
thing was needful to make his cure COM
plete, and that was to go to Washington
like man and call ON Mrs Cleveland at
the White House. After much solicitation he
Welded but would not come unless his best
friend whose name shall also be omitted,
would come with him. The friend readily
consented, and not long ago the two started
out for Washington, arrived here one after
noon and registered at Wizards. That
evening he Screwed his courage to the
sticking place. and they went to the White
House and spent long and delightful even
ing. The President happened TO be away at
the theatre, aud Mrs. Cleveland received
them most cordially. They talked over old
times, and, the ice once broken, the quon-
dam lover laughed pleasantly over his
laudable weakness, and they parted the best
of friends. After leaving the White House
they met third friend, whom they had
formerly known in New York.
"What, -, you here!" he exclaimed.
The whole story was then told-of how he
at last yielded to the wishes of his friends
and come to Washington for the express
purpose OF spending the evening with Mrs
Cleveland in the White House,
"And how did you find herF queried the
friend.
'tThe same dear, sweet, lovely girl that |
used to know he replied with i'll -concealed
emotion, "but am now persuaded that 1T
is better to have loved and lost than never
to have loved at all. J"